Christ Church Sandown

Welcome to the website of Christ Church, Sandown!

Thank you for visiting this website.  We would be so glad to extend a warm welcome to you at any church service or event.

As a result of the Corona virus things are not quite back to normal yet but from next Sunday (12 July) the church building will once again be open for services albeit with certain special arrangements in place.  A note below gives further details.

Whereas some re-opening of the church is now planned, it is our intention to continue to support everyone through maintaining our on-line services and virtual meet-ups at least until the end of August when we will be re-assessing the position in relation to what happens between now and then.

There is a service at church tomorrow at 11am to which you would be very welcome (see church services below on what to expect).  Many though still are not able to attend we are therefore continuing our Worship at Home services with that for Sunday 12 July available now on the church's YouTube channel (please subscribe to it) and a link to access it is also provided below.

Church services

In light of the UK Government requirements to stem the spread of Covid-19 public worship services were suspended in  mid-March.  From 4 July the Government has relaxed the restrictions, however, the health and safety aspects of re-opening churches are complex and mean the planned re-opening of Christ Church for services will still not be quite 'normal service' resuming.

From Sunday 12 July an 11am worship service will be held.  The numbers at a service are restricted by two factors: The size of the building and the social distancing that can be put in place; and those attending who are already in a "bubble".  If you plan to come as a family/bubble group such that social distancing is not required please can you let Frank Blackwell (click here to email Frank) know so that the seating arrangements can be adjusted accordingly.  This will also allow additional attendees to be socially distanced.  We are currently arranging distancing to be 2m apart and estimate we can probably accommodate up to around 50 people. Our apologies now if you are not able to sit in your favourite seat!

Other matters to note in terms of church services:

- a list of people attending will be made to facilitate subsequent tracing should this become necessary

- all attendees will be expected to use hand sanitiser or wash their hands on entering

- all liturgy will be on screen and no books used

- there is to be no singing and any liturgical responses should be said quietly (no shouting)

- no children's toys etc. are available due to hygiene restrictions and no provision for children's activities is currently being made. If you are coming with children please bring something with you to keep them occupied.  During August the talks being given may well be of interest to the older children as we look at some of the heroes in the bible.

- a one way system is being operated so the entrance and exit points from the building are different.

- no refreshments are being served at this time.

- where the service takes the form of Holy Communion wafers will be used and wine will only be consumed by the celebrant.

- for information,  those not attending the services will not fully loose out because the songs, prayers and message will be in line with the service being broadcast for the day on YouTube. 

If you are in the category of the clinically vulnerable or living with someone who is, then we do not encourage you to come to church at this time.  We note that under current government guidelines this will be permissible from 1 August.

As regards Funerals and Weddings and there have been changes to arrangements and up to 30 people can now be in attendance.  The Rev. Mark Williams should be contacted in the first instance if you wish to take advantage of these arrangements. Full details of the latest general advice as it affects churches can be found at http://www.churchofengland.org/coronavirus.

Caring for each other

If you find yourself isolated and in need please call or text Mark on 07873 406558.  We have people who can help and are very happy to chat on the phone if you should be worried.  In any event do spend time calling people you know.  We might all be socially isolating but we can still keep in touch.

Prayer

The church building remains generally inaccessible due to the hygiene arrangements required following its use.  However, prayer has now been re-established on Saturday mornings at 8.30am with social distancing in place.  We note that of course the church building is not the only place we can pray.  Can we encourage everyone to pray at home and may be even pray over the phone/FaceTime/WhatsApp/Skype/Messenger/Zoom with someone else!  “Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Our prayer for all is echoed in a special blessing video issue by the UK churches to the nation. May Lord bless you whoever you are.

Worship, messages and news

Weekly Worship at Home services are being recorded and are available on the church's YouTube Channel and/or the church's Facebook page. A search on Christ Church Sandown will locate both these sources.  The Worship at home service is uploaded and available from 6pm each Saturday for you to use at the time of your choice on Sundays.  The worship at home service includes a message, worship songs recorded by members of our worship group together with prayers and often interviews and/or special items.  A mid-week message is also being recorded on the church's Facebook page and is published on Wednesdays.

We have a church email list which is used to alert everyone to the publication of videos and the latest news generally.  If you would like to be kept in contact in this way please ask to be put on our mail list which Mark Williams is maintaining (click here to contact Mark for this purpose).

Apart from the church's own services, we would commend the local Facebook live service of St Paul's Barton at 10am on Sunday's. 

Staying in touch

The church home groups are not currently physically meeting.  However, various regular link-ups are taking place using mainly Messenger, Facetime and Zoom.  If you would like to try and join in one of the discussions which are substantially informal catch-up conversations please email Paul Corbett (click here to contact Paul for this purpose).  We cannot guarantee to link you up but we will try.